Zambia – Walk the Valley of the Leopard

Embark on an amazing journey to one of Africa’s best kept secrets; the wildlife rich South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. I spent 8 months here as a camp manager. I experienced, firsthand, the incredible display of wildlife, award winning accommodations, impeccable service, and some of the best safari guides anywhere in Africa.

This park, situated in the Luangwa Valley, is considered one of the best places in the world to see leopard due to the high density of prey animals. The prevalence of the sausage tree, named for its fruit that resembles a sausage, offers this powerful feline a secure place to drag its prey up and away from other predators and scavengers.

What is even more unique about this trip, you will spend 5 nights walking between camps in the most remote and wild area of South Luangwa National Park. You will be with one of the best trained guides in the business that will ensure your experience is safe and most memorable. To include this in your itinerary, the walking portion leaves on predetermined dates throughout the season and are booked up to a year in advance. BOOK NOW!!!

Day 1. Arrive at Lusaka International Airport in Zambia where you will be greeted and helped through customs and to your domestic flight to South Luangwa National Park. Arrive at South Luangwa National Park where you are chauffeured to the award winning Nkwali Camp for your first 2 days on safari. You will have an evening game drive to kick start your wildlife viewing.

Day 2;Nkwali Camp. Start the day with breakfast and a game drive. After lunch, relax in camp or at your luxurious chalet, cool off in the pool, or arrange a village visit and have the privilege of meeting some incredible people. Afternoon tea and snacks are served before you head out on your afternoon/evening game drive. Along the way you will stop to have drinks and watch the sunset, a bush tradition called the sundowner. After the night portion of your game drive, you will return to camp for dinner and then off to bed for the next phase of your adventure.

Day 3; Mobile Walking Safari Camp 1. Start the day with breakfast at Nkwali and then embark on a half day game drive to the remote and wild northern region of South Luangwa National Park. Upon arriving in camp, you will enjoy an incredible lunch and settle in for a relaxing afternoon before embarking on another walking safari before sundown. There is NO better place in Africa to experience the bush on foot. You are literally at the birthplace of the walking safari; Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Robin Pope Safaris has perfected the mobile walking experience so you can take in all the beauty of the bush as well as the iconic wildlife from the elephant shrew to the massive bull elephant.

Day 4-7;Mobile Walking Safari Camps 2 and 3. Your walking safari continues as you explore the wilds on foot, spending 2 nights at each of your next two camps. Morning and afternoon walks are the highlight once again as you will see elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe, the shy leopard, and so much more without the noise of a game vehicle or other park visitors interrupting the solitude. You will be amazed at how quickly and efficiently the camp staff can breakdown and rebuild a camp on the days you embark to your next destination. By the time you arrive at the next camp, you will find another amazing lunch and cozy accommodations waiting for you.

Day 8-10; Tena Tena Camp Your final morning of your walking portion of your safari. After an early breakfast, you will have a half day game drive (plus a boat crossing of the Luangwa River) to your next camp, Tena Tena. Over the next 3 days, enjoy day and night game drives as well as options to walk the bush. The focus here is to see all the animals you have gotten to witness during the mobile walking safari, but much closer. Wildlife in the park have grown accustomed to the presence of game viewing vehicles which enables you to get close enough for incredible pictures and viewing.

Day 11; You will leave after an early breakfast for the Mfuwe airport where you begin your journey home. Not ready to go home? We can add an addition to see Victoria Falls, the beautiful Lake Malawi, or even a gorilla trek adventure to Uganda or Rwanda.